Pressing machine steam valve



Nov. 28, 1939. A. D. ALBERO 2,181,529

- PRESSING MACHINE STEAM VALVE Filed July 27, 1937 I 24- mmw o a 47 4 7 Q. v .30

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Patented Nov. 28, 1939 PRESS ING MACHINE STE-AM VALVE Andrew D. Alberc, Delaware Gardens, N. J., as-

phia, Pa.

signer of one-half to Irving M. Ealk, Philadel- Application July ZY, 1937, "Serial No.155,85'1" I I 1 Claim.

My invention relates to valves, and, more particularly, relates to valves for controlling the v steam supply to..-steam pressing devices.

Heretofore, pressing machine steam valves have been of the type which are Operated by being forced into contact with or retracted from a seat surrounding the port desired to be closed or opened. This type of valve is generally providedv with a gasket or packing whose function is to insure a pressure tight closure. Although the sealing function might be relatively eflicient when the gasket is new, it is the general experience that the'gasket or packing soon becomes worn, causing the valve to leak.

The primary object of my invention is to produce a valve in which this defect is overcome.

Another object of my invention is to provide a manually operable slide valve for pressing machines. I

A further object of my invention is to produce a valve of extreme simplicity which may be used on steam pressing machines and flat-irons.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a pressing machine steam'valve of simple, durable and inexpensive construction.

With these and other objects in View which will become apparent as the description proceeds, my invention consists essentially of-a valve chamber provided with an inlet and an outlet port, a slide valve adapted, when in one position, to provide communication between the ports and in another position to prevent such communication, and means to control the position. of said valve.

,The invention, both as to details of construe-- tionand combinationof parts, will best be understood from the following'description of a specific embodiment which I illustrate as an example, when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which: e

Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of my improved valve showing it used in connection with the head of a pressing machine.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of-

my valve as used on a flat-iron.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the fiat-iron of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in to traverse passages 23, 35 and 24 to the cham- Fig "7 is a fragmentary section. of. the valve of w my invention showing another valve stem seal.

wall l3 and a lower'wall l4, and a distributor 'cham'ber l5 between the wall l4 and an outer perforate wall l6. '-A va1ve casing I1 extends through the chamber 12 through a borel8 in the wall 13 and threadedly engages a pipe-tapped opening IS in the wall l4. Above the wall l3, the casing I! is provided with threads which are engaged by a'nut 2| which may beturned down over a gasket 22 to seal the chamber 12. Within the casing l1 are provided an inlet passage 23 and an outlet passage 24 communicating at their lower ends with chambers I2 and 15, respectively. At their upper ends, passages23 and 24 continue through 'a gasket 25 which comprises the floor and valve seat of a valve chamberj26 formed within a housing member 21 and a gasket 28 reinforced by a cover member 29.

A-slide valve 33provided with a passage 35 therein is reciprocable within the chamber 26 by means of a valve stem 35 passing through anopening 31 in the member 21 and beingscrewthreaded i'ntothe' valve 30. Stem 36isprovided with a loop 38 at the outer end, wherein is-enga'g ed one end 39 of a'manually-operable control-bellcrank lever 40 pivoted at a point 41 .on a support- .ing arm 42 carried by the member 29. A spring gage casing IT to secure a steam tight arrangement.

The operation of this device is as follows: Assume that. steam has been admitted by suitable means (not illustrated) into chamber I2. To operate the pressing machine and admit steam into the distributor l5, control lever' 40 is operated, moving the lever end 39 to the position illustrated in Fig. 1 against the tension of spring 43.

The valve stem 36 and the valve 30 are moved to theright to the position shown, permitting steam ber l5.

Although .anysuitable type of material may be used for gaskets 25"and 28, it has been my experience that fiber gaskets are preferable because they soon form a smooth shiny surface which needs no lubrication.

Disassembly of the valve mechanism is accomplished by merely removing the screws 41. Adjustment of compression of the slide-valve 2'! between gaskets 25 and 28 is also by means of screws 41.

Figs. 3 and 4 show a flat-iron 49 in which the steam is controlled by a valve 50 similar in operation to that of Figs. 1 and 2. A valve chamber 52 communicates with a steam chamber 5| by means of a passage 53, and with an external channel 54 by means of a passage 55. A valve chamber is formed by gaskets 25 and 28 and a valve housing 21'. A valve30' is reciprocated by a valve stem 36 which passes through and projects rearwardly of housing 21' and is screwthreaded externally thereof into a'tie member 56 into which is also screw-threaded a rod 58. The rod 58 passes horizontally completely through a top member 60 to the front-of the iron by means of an opening 59, and at its front end is provided with a loop 65. An operating lever 66 is pivoted at a point 61 on a supporting arm 68 carried by the member 60, and has its lower end-extending into the loop 65. A compression spring 69 lies partly in a recess (8 in member 60 and exerts pressure on the upperpart of lever 66, tending to force said lever to the left. Screws 4'! secure the parts in proper relation and permitready disassembly and adjustment of the valve.

'Ihumb pressure on a knob H on the lever 66 permits operation of the valve mechanism from the normally closed position to the open position illustrated in Fig. 3, in which the rod 59 has been moved to the left, carrying with it the stem 36' and the valve 30'. b

An alternate construction for the flat-iron mechanism is shown inFig. 5, and is similar in construction to the valve of Fig. '3 except that the rod 58 is dispensed with and a valve stem 36" enters from the front of the iron through a valve housing 21". Although the construction of Fig. 5 is simpler, the construction shown in Fig. 3 has the advantage that if steam leaks through the valve-stem opening in the valve housing, it issues toward the rear of the iron and not toward the operator as it would in the device of Fig. 5. When new, the valve stem fit issnug and there should be no leaks, but when wear occurs there is the possibility of steam leaks. This condition is minimized in the valve construction of Fig. 1, where, in the open position (as illustrated) the valve 38 itself seals the opening 31. In Fig. 3, leakage due to a worn valve stem might occur when the valve is opened (as illustrated). In Fig. 5 the valve stem opening is sealed by the valve when the valve is open (as illustrated) To overcome the leakage effects of wornvalve stems, they may be constructed with conical sections cofitting with complementary openings in the valve housings. Such a construction is shown in Fig. 6, where a valve stem is provided with a conical section 8| and a cooperating valve housing 82 is shown in fragmentary section. This type of construction is for the mechanism of Fig. 5, and would provide a positive seal for the closed valve position. Similarly, Fig. 7 shows a valve stem 85, with a conical section 86 and a cooperating housing 81. This construction would provide a positive closed-valve seal for the mechanism of Fig. l and an open-valve seal for the mechanism of Fig. 3.

Instead of the L passages in the valves of Figs. 1. 2, 3, and 5, a U passage 90 as represented in the valve 9| of Fig, 8, or a similar reentrant passage may be employed in my valves.

Although the invention has been described in cons derable detail, such description is intended as illustrative rather than limiting, as numerous embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. My invention, therefore, is not intended to be limited except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art or the spirit of the appended claim.

I claim:

A valve for steam pressing devices including a bottom casing member. an intermediate casing member having an opening therethrough forming a valve chamber, a top casing member, a bottom gasket between said bottom member and said intermediate member, said bottom gasket completely covering and extending beyond the margins of the opening in said intermediate member and said bottom member and said bottom gasket having an inlet port and an outlet port opening into the valve chamber. a top gasket between said intermediate member and said tcpmember, saidtop gasket completely covering and extending beyond the margins of the opening in said intermediate member, a slide-valve reciprocable within said chamber and constructed and arranged such that in one position of said slide-valve said ports are in communication and in another position communication is prevented, means to control the position of said slide-valve, and means to compress said gaskets and said intermediate member between the bottom and top members, said slide-valve being constructed and arranged to be under compression between said gaskets.

ANDREW D; .ALBERO. 

